On the matter of neurological equipment for KBTH - Reported by MyJoyOnLine

N.B. Andrews
March 3, 2015

The article on transportation of donated neurosurgical equipment from the US to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) presents numerous serious problems.

There are grave problems with:

 a) the reportage

 b) the statements attributed to the KBTH staff

The article emphatically implies that the lack of equipment is placing lives at risk- from devastating neurologic impairment and death.

But what is the scope of the problem?  How many patients are or have been affected over the last five years? We are not told. Are the records available? oops!

Has any effort been made to approach neurosurgeons within Ghana to help; or is the implication that there are none outside KBTH and the only recourse is for the patient to spend 50 000USD to travel outside Ghana? We are not told!

But there are Ghanaian neurosurgeons some with over 30 years experience and who have worked as consultants/attendings in elite international institutions in the US, Europe, Asia and Africa and they practice in Ghana. But not necessarily at the KBTH.

They have published research material (including research done Ghana) in international peer reviewed scientific journals. A simple internet search can verify this and identify them. (Neurological first, ...)

Did the reporter do this simple bit of research in order to locate qualified professionals within Ghana, with the tools and expertise to solve or address the problem in the short and medium term- to potentially save lives and alleviate suffering?

Since the KBTH is a training institution, how has it been able to train neurosurgical specialists if for the last five years it lacks basic standard equipment?

Where did the sum of 50 000USD for brain tumor surgery come from? Was it verified from an independent source such as a hospital business office (via a simple phone call or email) or an independent expert or neurosurgeon outside the KBTH?

For the umpteenth time, our public officials have fallen short in providing us with good services and credible answers to simple questions.

Again our journalists have proven themselves lazy when it comes to questioning our public officials and providing us with basic information; in this instance knowledge that can save lives.

We cannot pretend that simply bringing in 10m dollars worth of donated equipment to a public institution can heal our largely self inflicted wounds and solve our attitudinal problems.

N.B. Andrews
Blebo We-Sakumo
March 3, 2015

 

Referenced article:  Ministry, Korle-Bu fail to raise $250,000 for equipment; risk lives of brain tumor patients